Game apparatus



July 24, 1928.

L. SQMOVEY ems APPARATUS L QMW \A Filed April 15, 1927 2 sheetls sheet 1 INVENTOR e/w20 @SM I ATTORNEYS L. s. M VEY GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1927 Patented July 24, 1928.

LELAND STANFORD MOVEY, OF FONTANA, CALIFORNIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed April 13, 1927. Serial No. 183,486. 1

My invention relates to game apparatus, and it has for a purpose the provision of an apparatus which simulates ashooting gallery having a board over which balls are projected by a manually operable projector toward a target, which latter, when struck disappears from view, allowing the ball to pass to a chute for conducting the ball back to and in position for a second projection upon succeeding operation of the projector.

It is also a purpose of my inventionto provide a game apparatus of the above described character in which simple and effective mechanism is embodied for rapidly actuating the projector to effect the rapid and successive projection of balls toward the target, the mechanism including means for actuating a plurality of targets concurrently with the actuation of the projector to bring a new target into view upon each actuation of the projector. I

A further purposeof my invention is the provision of a game apparatus in 'which manually operable means isprovided for moving a target into view following striking thereof by a ball during which it is knocked to a concealed position. I

I will describe only two forms of game apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the drawings I Figure 1 is a view showing in top plan one form of game apparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the projector and actuating mechanism, with the cover plate removed;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 5* is a'fra'gmentary sectional view illustrating one position occupied by the ball projector embodied in my invention.

Figure 6 is a view similar to'Figure 1, showing another form of game apparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the apparatus shown in Figure 6;

F' are 8 is sectional view taken on the 8 cl litigate 7 5 Similar reference characters refer to simi-' lar parts in each'of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention in the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, comprises aboard 15 supported in inclined position by legs 16 and 17, the latter of which are pivotally supported upon a transverse member 18 to permit folding thereof and held extended by the latches 18 on the member 18. The board increases in width from its, lower end to its upper end and its side edges are provided with ledges 19 to prevent the accidental displacement of balls projected over the surface of the board.

As shown in Figure 2, the lower end portion ofthe board is provided with an opening 20 surrounded by a frame 21 in the end portions of which is slidably mounted a ball projecting rod 22. The forward end of the rod is adapted to move between ball positioning fingers 23, while its rear end is enclosed in a housing 2 1 suitably secured to the adjacent end wall of the frame. A transverse rod 25 intersects and is secured to the rod 22 at a point between the ends of the latter, the ends of the rod 25 being movable in suitable openings 26 in the side portions of the frame 21. These openings are constructed to provide shoulders 27 against which the rod 25 is adapted to abut in limiting the forward movement of the rod 22. A spring 28 surrounds the rod 22 at a point between the rod 25 and the lower end wall of the frame 21, such spring normally urging the rod 22 forwardly until the rod 25 abuts the shoulders 27 I A shaft 29 is journaled in one side wall of the frame 21 and in a partition 30. This shaft is provided at its outer end with a crank 31 by which it can be manually rotated to actuate a cam 32 fixed thereto and engaged by the rod 25 so that when the cam is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 the rod 22 will be moved rearwardly from theositiou shown in Figure 2 to that r l s pose.

shown in Figure 6. In this latter position the spring 28 is compressed so that upon continued rotation of the cam the rod 25 is suddenlyreleased, permitting the spring to expand and project the rod 22 forwardly. This movement of the rod is utiltized to. project a ball across the board.

In this mechanism it will be manifest that continuous rotation of the cam 32 will effect the intermittent retraction, sudden release and subsequent projection of the ball projecting rod 22 forwardly with sufficient force to project a ball upwardly ot the board and into a basket provided for the pur- This basket, as shown, is provided witha screen portion to permit the operator to observe the action of the balls andtargets as they strike the targetsand leave the board. The bottom of this basket is shown in Figure 3 as inclined in two directions to cause balls entering the basket to-gravitate downwardly into an opening 34: inthe transverse member 18. to the upper end or a chute which extends downwardly through the board l5 so that its lower end is dispeselabove the board and adjacent the forward end of the frame 21. At its. lower endthe chute is provided-with a lateral extension 36 having li.initing;iinjers 37 and an open bottom through which a ball may drop on to the board and between the positioning); fingers 23. in the position for protection by the rod 22 when the latter is retracted.

The object or the game as played is to project balls over the board to strike targets, and in the present instance I have provided two targets 38 hingedly supported on a Z- shaped arm secured to the upper end of a shaft 40. Each target 38 is mounted to occupy a displayed upright position as shown in solid lines in Figure 2 or a concealed lowered position as shown in dash lines in the same figure. In this latter position the target is supported by means of an extension a l in order that as the target is rotated it will assume an upright position when displayed. The shaft 40 is j'ournaled in the transverse member 18 and suitable cars 42 on the under side of the board 15, its lower end being provided with a grooved pulley 43 which is operatively connected to a similar pulley ll on the shaft 29 by a-twisted belt 45; Through thisconnection the shaft 29, when rotated, eflects rotation of the shaft 10 and thereby causes a circular movement of the targets 38 to successively.

move the latter to displayed position at the upper end of the board 15. As the projector rod 22 is operated by rotation of the shaft 29 it will be clear that concurrently with projection of balls upwardly of the board the targets 38 are also actuated. and the mechanism maybe so designed that following each operation of the projector a This opening leads game apparatus embodying; my invention ,WlllCll 1s snnilar in construction and operation in that'itpembodies an upwardly inclined board having at its upper end foldable legs 51. a bashet 52 and a chute 53 for conducting balls downwardly and so as to bedeposited between positioning fingers 54 as shown'in Figure 9'. A ball projecting rod 55 is. mounted in .aframe 56, its rear end being providedv with a handle 57 by whiohit can be manually moved rearwardly against the tension of aspring' 5.8 so as to compress the spring and thus when released to project the rod forwardly so that its for-- ward end projects ballnpwardly of the board and towara a. target 59. The target 59' is hingedly supported upon. a lmp arm 60 secured to a; transverse member 61 of the board. Ashe-lit .62 extends u ward y 'along'the' under side of the. board 15, with upper end projecting through the trans verse member 61, where it is provided with a crank 63 positioned and operable by rotationoi the shaft to elevate the target 59 from the lowered position shown inlsolid lines in Figure 7 to the upright displayed position. shown in dash lines. The lower ind of this shaft 62 is provided with a crank 64 conveniently located with respect to the head 57 so to be manually operated for moving the target to upright position. A. spring member 65 is secured to the member 61, as shown inFigure 8, so as to engage the crank 63 and yieldably urge the latter to its lowered position, thus in no way obstructing the movement of the target. to the lower position. I

In both formsof my invention the cages 33 and 52 and-troughs 3 5 and 53 are dem ountalole to. facilitate packing and shipping.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of game apparatus embodying my iivention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention, and within the spirit and ope of h ppen d claim I claim: I 1

1. A game apparatus comprising a board .means for projecting ballsover the board,

targets movable to occupy "displayed and concealed positions with respect to the surface of the board, and means supporting the tar-gets fOr-rotatmgmovement. on an axis disposed longitudinally of the board in a manner to cause the targets to successively occupy displayed and concealed positions.

2. A game-apparatus comprising a board, means for projecting balls over the board, targets movable to occupy displayed and concealed positions with respect to the surface of the board, means supporting the targets ;tor rotating movement in a manner to cause the targets to successively occupy displayed and concealed positions, said last means comprising a shaft extending longitudinally of the board from the projecting end portion of the board tothe targets and having an arm upon which the targets are hingedly' supported.

3. A game apparatus comprising a board, means for projecting balls over the board, targets movable to occupy displayed and concealed positions with respect to the surface of the board, and means supporting the targets for rotating movement in a manner to cause the targets to successively occupy displayed and concealed positions, and means operatively connecting the last means to the ball projecting means to cause operation of the targets in a predetermined sequence with respect to and upon operation of the ball projecting means.

4. A game apparatus comprising a board inclined upwardly, means at the lower end of the board for projecting balls upwardly thereof, means at the upper end of the board for receiving the balls, targets at the upper end of the board, means operable by the ball projecting means for actuating the targets to cause them to be successively displayed above the upper end of the board, and means correlated to the second means for conducting balls back to the projecting means.

5. A game apparatus comprising a board, ball projecting means at one end of the board, ball receiving means at the other end of the board, targets at the last mentioned end of the board, and a chute for conduct ing balls from the ball receiving means back to the ball projecting means in such manner that the balls are presented to the projecting means successively to permit the successive projection of balls by said means.

6. A game apparatus comprising a board, ball projecting means at one end of the board comprising a rod, a cross arm on the rod, means for urging the rod and arm to one position, and a cam engageable with the arm and rotatable to move the rod to another position against the action of said urging means and in a manner to suddenly release the rod to permit said urging means to rapidly move the rod to the first position, ball receiving means at the other end of the board, targets supported for rotating movement at the ball receiving end of the board, and means operable upon rotation of the cam for rotating the targets.

7 A game apparatus comprising a board, ball projecting means at one end of the board comprising a rod, a cross arm on the rod, means for urging the rod and arm to one position, and a cam engageable with the arm and rotatable to move the rod to another position against the action of said urging means and in a manner to suddenly release the rod to permit said urging means to rapidly move the rod to the first position, ball receiving means at the other end of the board, a shaft for rotating the cam, targets at the ball receiving end of the board, a second shaft for rotatably supporting the targets, and means for operatively connecting said shafts so that the targets are rotated upon actuation of the cam.

8. A game apparatus comprising a board, means for projecting balls over the board, targets movable to occupy displayed and concealed positions with respect to the surface ot the board, means supporting the targets for movement in a manner to cause the targets to successively occupy displayed and concealed positions, and means operatively connecting the last means to the ball projecting means to cause operation of the targets in a predetermined sequence with respect to and upon operation of: the ball projecting means.

9. A game apparatus comprising a board inclined upwardly, means at the lower end of the board for projecting balls upwardly thereof, means at. the upper end of the board for receiving the balls, targets at the upper end of the board, and means operable by the ball projecting means for actuating the targets to cause them to be successively displayed above the upper end of the board.

10. A game apparatus comprising a board, means for projecting balls over the board, targets mounted for movement to occupy displayed and concealed positions with respect to the surface of the board, and means for actuating the targets concurrently With the actuation of the ball projecting means to bring a new target into view upon each actuation of the projecting means.

LELAND STANFORD MOVEY. 

